M4: Financial Aid

Responsibility for Maintenance: Financial Aid

I. Policy Statement 

Candidates for Financial Aid to Onondaga Community College must satisfy the minimum requirements set forth in this policy, as well as all requirements, procedures, rules and regulations established by United State Department of Education, New York State Department of Education and the Financial Aid office. This policy is not intended to establish an all-inclusive list of requirements for financial aid or factors considered in the application process. Except as set forth in this policy or required by applicable law, the College reserves the right to award or deny candidates for any lawful reason.

II. Reason for Policy

This policy is intended to ensure that the College’s financial aid decisions are based upon sufficient information and are rendered in a manner consistent with applicable law.

III. Applicability of the Policy

All College personnel having a role in the financial aid process, and all prospective applicants for financial aid, should be familiar with this policy.

IV. Related Documents

  • US Department of Education/Eligibility and Certification Approval Report (ECAR)

  • US Department of Education Program Participation Agreement (PPA)

  • Federal Student Aid Fiscal Operations Report and Application to Participate
  • U.S. Code, Title 31, Section 1352, 34 CFR Part 82 “Restrictions on Lobbying” Certification
  • SUNY Code of Conduct for Title IV Direct Loan and Private Alternative Loans
  • Student Loan Accountability, Transparency and Enforcement Action (SLATE)

V.Contacts

Subject Office Name Telephone 
Number		 Email/URL
Requirements for Financial Aid Financial Aid (315) 498-2000 Financial Aid Website  

 

VI. Procedures

Financial Aid Requirements

The awarding of financial aid will be based upon the following:

  1. Completion of a Financial Aid Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
  2. Completion of a NYS Tuition Assistance Program application (TAP);
  3. Completion of other NYS Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC) application(s) for other state-funded scholarship programs (i.e. Excelsior, STEM, Aid for Part-time Study);
  4. An application and acceptance for admission into a degree or certificate program;
  5. Completion of all required documents as determined by the financial aid office;
  6. Upon completion of required documents the financial aid professionals will review to determine eligibility for federal, state and local aid and notify the student in writing via mail or email of available aid. Awards are also available to view through the Financial Aid section of WebAdvisor. All grants are automatically accepted upon awarding and thereby available to the Office of Student Accounts to show as pending on the student’s account to defer incurred tuition, fees, and housing charges (if applicable). Federal student loans require a student to accept them on MyOCC, authorizing Financial Aid to certify loan awards. Acceptance on MyOCC will make loan eligibility available to the College when all loan requirements such as entrance counseling and the Master Promissory Note are completed and the loan is processed. If loan proceeds cannot be credited to the student’s account at the time of processing, the loan amount processed will be made available to the Office of Student Accounts as pending on the student’s account to defer incurred tuition, fees and housing charges (if applicable).  Students also have the option of reducing the amount of federal student loans initially offered to them by visiting Student Central and requesting a lower amount if the student would like to limit their overall borrowing.

The payment of financial aid will be based upon the following:

  1. The certified enrollment status as of the census date of any given semester and/or the census date of any variable length coursework for any given semester, for federal, state, and institutional grants/scholarships;
  2. The certification of enrollment of at least six (6) credits when federal loan proceeds are received by the -Office of Student Accounts and certification of enrollment of at least three (3) credits when Pell grant funds are received, if applicable based on students Cost of Attendance and Expected Family Contribution.

VII.Forms/Online Processes

  • Onondaga Community College’s Financial Aid Programs, student expense budgets, how to apply for financial aid and apply online. See the link above to the OCC Financial Aid website.

Approved by the President February 4, 2010